Mexico’s Supreme Court has ruled that hated governor Ulises Ruiz Ortiz was responsible for gross violations of human rights during the 2006 Oaxaca uprising – but no sanctions are to be brought against him.

Ortiz, who presided over the brutal repression of thousands in the region during a mass uprising against his rule, has retained his control of the state despite near-zero approval ratings. The court’s decision over­turned a previous legal judgment by Justice Mariano Azuela by agreeing with claims from union and civil groups in Oaxaca that Ortiz had failed to take appropriate measures to maintain public order.

Activists expressed disappointment that the judgement did not go further, saying that judges failed to implicate former president Vicente Fox in the repression and did not go far enough in their condemnation of Ortiz.

However it has given a legal gloss to calls from activist groups within Oaxaca for Ortiz to resign, as it is only the second time that an incumbent of such a senior regional position has faced such condemnation from the country’s top court.

Along with Ortiz, some commanders in the state police, including director general of Public Security José Manuel Vera Salinas, director of Ministerial Police naval lieutenant José Moreno Rivas, and director of Auxiliary Police Joaquín Darío Berges were held responsible for using excessive force.

Justice Silva Meza alone argued that violations of rights continued after the inauguration of Calderon.